Japan's Economy Contracts 0.9% in Q4

Japan's real GDP for the first quarter of 2011 fell 0.9% from the previous quarter, tipping the country into a recession as the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused declines in consumer spending, business investment and private-sector inventories.

Government spending rose 1.0% in January-March amid disaster-relief efforts, its strongest gain in three quarters, but was not enough to offset weakness in private sector demand.

Exports, meanwhile, rose 0.7% for the first gain in two quarters, the data showed, confounding expectations for a on-quarter decrease. Imports increased 2%, growing for the first time in two quarters amid high global oil prices.

TradingEconomics.com, WSJ5/19/2011 2:04:03 PM

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